Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year and current Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders, the father of Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders, has shared a massive health update after he was diagnosed with bladder cancer in July 2025.
Deion Sanders Prepares For 2026-27 College Football Season After Being Deemed Cancer-Free
Appearing on “Good Morning America” with fellow former NFL player Michael Strahan, Sanders provided his health update.
Before sitting down with Sanders, Strahan recapped his career, noting that he’s the only person to have played in a Super Bowl and a World Series. Sanders played nine years in the MLB and 14 years in the NFL.
In addition to the health update, Sanders was appearing on the show as the spokesman for Depend. The conversation started with Strahan asking Sanders what he’s most looking forward to about the 2026 Buffaloes college football season.
“Winning,” Sanders said. “I’m healthy. I got my health back. I got my swagger back… I got my me back, you know, last year at this time, I’m fighting cancer, I didn’t know which way it was going to go.”
Sanders also thanked Strahan for calling to check on him during his battle with cancer.
While Sanders said it was “not a good look” this time last year, Strahan turned it into a positive, noting that Sanders had a commitment to the kids on his football team. Strahan said that Sanders showed up when others might have “taken a break,” and joked that at one point he told Sanders to relax a bit.
“I’m thankful that we fought the battle, and we won the battle fighting cancer,” Sanders added. “It was a tremendous and tumultuous battle, and I’m thankful to be sitting here right now.”
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Later on in the interview and health update, Strahan’s co-host, Sam Champion, asked him, “How are you? Cancer-free? Where are you with that right now?”
“I’m cancer-free,” Sanders said. “I’m good. Great doctors in Colorado that has brought me through. God has brought me through. I’m thankful. I’m healthy. I got my swagger back. Like, I’m ready to go, ready to go coach my butt off this season.”
Sanders mentioned that early detection of his bladder cancer was key. He mentioned some amputations that he has, and in directing medical attention to that, they found the cancer.
In 2021, Sanders had several foot surgeries and had two toes amputated as a result of blood clots.
Sanders was recently asked by “Front Office Sports” about rumors linking him to the Dallas Cowboys head coaching job last year.
“They weren’t real at all,” Sanders said. “I like playing the pro game, but I wouldn’t enjoy coaching the pro game… I’m focused on winning and getting these kids [at Colorado] through college so they have degrees, and they’re able to attain tremendous professions even after football is over. But I have no thought process of the NFL whatsoever.”
